Ousted fascists' agents are still running BOA

Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) is the pivotal organization for the betterment of sports individuals, sports organizers and sports contests across the country but BOA was grossly politicized, defiled and crippled with nepotism and corruption by the immediate past regime which was ousted from power on 5 August 2024. Sources associated with sports wings have informed that most of the executive committee members of BOA have been absconding since August 2024 when former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled away to India.

However, the ghosts and toxic parasites that gobbled up and paralyzed Bangladesh Olympic Association during last 15 years could not be yet fully wiped out. Syed Shahed Reza, who was a loud and clear loyalist to Sheikh Hasina, is still holding the Secretary General post in Bangladesh Olympic Association. Syed Shahed Reza managed to build up a den of irregularities, political biases, autocracy, illegal drugs, muscle power and tyranny inside BOA during last several years capitalizing on his intimate connections with unseated ruling party Awami League hierarchy. Even though Awami League was overthrown around nine months ago and most of the Awami League leaders, benefactors and parliamentarians are either inside prison or fugitives, Syed Shahed Reza is still basking in a comfort zone which has raised questions, triggered criticism and wonder from reputed sports organizers.

Syed Shahed Reza absolutely gripped the electoral system in BOA and he did not allow competent, dedicated and patriotic sports figures to contest in two previous elections in Bangladesh Olympic Association. Even several sports organizers collected nomination papers from BOA but they were denied entry into the polls. Allegations show that Syed Shahed Reza often pulls the name of Army Chief to scare his opponents and this is how Syed Shahed Reza is pushing the fame and esteem of the Chief of Staff of Bangladesh Army towards controversy and denunciation.

Eminent citizens who are involved in various sports federations have called upon the Ministry of Youth and Sports to conduct a comprehensive investigation without delay about Syed Shahed Reza's alliance with Sheikh Hasina and her cohorts and his manipulation on last two BOA elections. Several dynamic and well-known sports organizers have told The Asian Age on condition of anonymity that keeping Syed Shahed Reza in BOA Secretary General echelon will continue further worsening Bangladesh's sports potentialities.

However, there is a ray of hope that a young Adviser is currently in charge of the Ministry of Youth and Sports who is expected to release his ministry and the institutions under his portfolio from the ghosts and agents left behind by the ousted ruthless regime.

Syed Shahed Reza was often seen with Sheikh Hasina at Awami League's political programs. He worked like a submissive Awami League follower and a devoted serf to Sheikh Hasina. The evil shadows of fascism cannot be fully uprooted with face off Lucifers like Syed Shahed Reza in a senior post of Bangladesh Olympic Association and this will without doubts exterminate Bangladesh's reputation on global sports stages and will demotivate domestic sports professionals too.